Egyptian Gilf restrictions

[ursula]

- groupe of 5 persons
- 15 days in the Western Desert and Gilf Kebir North
- not going further south than 23th

400 Euro per person

- this is 60% of the escort cost - to pay in advance, otherwise we can not start
- the local agency is in charge of the other 40%, they will get them back after the expedition

byebye - Ursula

[cota0]

Hello,
I'll be there from 8th November. We are two person with one 4x4.
Does anyone like to include us in a group to make the tour?
Other case I'll do only the oasis route.

Thanks.

[andrasz]

Originally Posted by ursula

400 Euro per person

- this is 60% of the escort cost - to pay in advance, otherwise we can not start

It's called Protection Money, an age old concept... As they say, Welcome to Egypt!

[Trumpton]

[quote=ursula;308042]- groupe of 5 persons
- 15 days in the Western Desert and Gilf Kebir North
- not going further south than 23th

400 Euro per person

- this is 60% of the escort cost - to pay in advance, otherwise we can not start
- the local agency is in charge of the other 40%, they will get them back after the expedition


I calculate the actual cost to be 2890 euro, of which the agency gets back after the trip, 1445 euro.

I suppose this agency has rounded it up to charge nearly 600 euro as an 'administration' fee!!!!

This Is Egypt


Do you know if this charge is Dakhla back to dakhla?

[ursula]

hi Andy

I had similar thoughts about this 60/40%-story...
actually the TM should pay back half of the cost, shouldnt they?

No, the escort is not from Dakhla - to Dakhla anymore, read the bad news on page 1:
Now its 27th - 27th


happy travels...
Ursula

[Trumpton]

Ursula,

Yes the idea is that the tourist tax is paid to the Tourist police in full on departure, and that they refund 50% on return,

Quite how long to get the refund, I dont know, but my Egyptian friend fears that knowing the beauracracy, it will take ages!!!!

When are you travelling?

would appreciate some feedback on the situation.

I am awaiting some more info from the Eg government about all this fiasco, will post it when (if) I recieve it.

Originally they told me that it was because of the dangers from Sudan, but we all know what rubbish this is, especially at 26.5 North!!!!

[ursula]

>>> When are you travelling?

soon

>>> would appreciate some feedback on the situation.

sure!

Flickr: ursulazrich's Photostream

[venu]

I'm trying to find more info on the 27th parallel rule - does anyone know whether the White Desert (just north of Farafra, but part of which is technically south of 27) requires the TP escort?

[3M]

No there is no need for TP in white desert, also you may need to inform authorities about your presence there maybe through a bahariya hotel or guide.
Expect to be asked for passport copies. And to have your tour / camp east of the asphalt road.

Latest I know: if a group is travelling to dakhla and spending the night in one of the oasis hotels, there is no need for TP too.

Regards
Mahmoud Mohareb

[ursula]

hi

back again - with new experience. The 4 Tourist Police and the Captain of the army were
less trouble than expected. But all in all there were 12 people for 5 tourists in 5 cars!
- we were not happy about this lot. The TP insisted to have their camp just behind our big tent,
contrary of the here mentioned 100m distance. They were all very young, the first time in Gilf Kebir
and I must admit - they were polite, friendly and helpful. The TP had machine guns and
pistols, the Captain didn't even have a GPS or a satphone as they used to have in the last years.

Ursula

a few pictures of this new situation on
wuestenschiff.de/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=43455&start=90

[ursula]

hi
no change in April - but the Egyptians gave us a very warm welcome

some new pics of the escort here

[ursula]

at least two sources in Egypt announced, that there will be no TP-escort next season - just a military officer, as before



lets hope for the best!

Ursula

[Toby]

Hi All, Has anyone heard any more on this? I have emailed my Egyptian pal in Cairo for info. Will post if I hear anything. Not having to lug 8 Squaddies around makes a welcome amendment to the sums. T

[ursula]

I have got recently very contradictory informations -
they same quite big agency wrote to me that there is no change with the
escort - but in May they said there is no more escort, just the military officer...
:confused1:

I am very curious what your pal is telling us!

Ursula

[Trumpton]

I'm the same???

One minute one person says there is no restriction, the next & its back to the police escort!

Last week we spoke (several times) with the Ministry Of Tourism & got absolutely nowhere, no body would say which rules are in force

Nothing on the regs on the ETAA site either.

I guess they are all tied up with the elections etc etc at the moment, not that helps the likes of us on this forum when we need to plan ahead for shipping cars & containers & the like

Thats Egypt for you!!!!!

Andy